Condenser



A. DELAS Feb. 8. 1927.

CONDENSER Filed March 8, 1924 '5 She ets-$heet l azzlfi iw OR ATTORNEY S Feb. 8'; 1927.

A. DELAS CONDENSER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 8, 1924 ATTORNEY)? Patented Feb. 8, 1927..

UNITED. STATES 3 1,616,610 PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT DELAS, OF PARIS, FRANCE, ASSIGNOR TO DELAS CONDENSER CORPORATION,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK. I

CONDENSER.

Application filed March 8, 1924, Serial No.

\Vhile the present invention relates broadly to improvements in condensers, it has more particularly to do with improvements mentally new method of condensing steam which consists, broadly stated, of subjecting the steam in a condenser to the cooling effect of aplurality of superimposed cooling tubes,

and simultaneously maintaining at least a portion of the surface of said tubes free from the insulating effect of the water of condensation from the upper tubes. Or stated in another way the method consists in passing the steam to be condensed into contact with a plurality of superimposed cooling tubes and in conducting the water condensed by an upper tube or tubes over a portion only of the circumferential surface of the lower tubes. To enable him to do this Ginabat arranged his cooling tubes in such -a way that the condensed water falling from the bottom of an upper tube would strike the lower tube at' one side thereof. This method of condensing steam has proved in practice to be highly efficient for the reasons, among others; (1) that the insulating film of condensed water upon the tubes is confined to only a portion of the surfaces thereof thereby leaving the 'remaining portion of the surfaces of said tubes free so that the incoming steam to be condensed may come in direct contact with said free surfaces; (2) that the flow of condensed water from the upper to the lower end of the tubular system is not impeded, or stated in another way the duration of contact of. the condensed water with the cooling tubes is reduced to a minimum for the reason that when a drop of water from an upper tube arrives substantially at a tangent to the tube just below it the speed of its fall is practically undiminished; and (3) that the construction and method enables a free and more uniform distribution and circulation among the cooling tubes of the steam to be condensed. For

further particulars respecting the Ginabat 697,691, and in France February 28, 1924.

be condensed; (2) to effect a more symmetrical arrangement or .relation to one another of the respective groups of cooling tubes in the condenser; (3) to effect the removal of the water of condensation from one group of cooling tubes without allowing it to fall upon the tubes of the adjacent group or groups thereby avoiding the accumulation on the surface of the lower tubes of water which flows or falls from the upper tubes and which diminishes substantially the efficiency of the lower tubes; (4) to provide a path at one side of each group of tubes to facilitate the extraction of air and non-condensible gases from the condenser; and (5) to provide means for more effectively drying the air and non-condensible gases prior to its leaving the condenser.

Further objects, features and advantages of my invention will more fully appear from the detailed description below taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of a condenser in which my improvements are embodied and which is taken on the line II of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line IIII of Fig.1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view.

Fig. 4 illustrates diagrammatically two groups of tubes and a bafiie located between said groups of tubes in conformity with the invention.

Fig. -5 illustrates, diagrammatically, the arrangement of the tubes in a condenser.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the reference numeral 10 designates the casing or outer wall of a condenser, said casing or wall being preferably of cylindrical conformation. The condenser is provided with end plates 11 and 12 and an intermediate plate 13 which supports the cooling tubes of the condenser. The three plates 11, 12 and 13 are also equipped with a plurality of stay rods 14, the purposes of which, aside from their ordinary use, will more fully hereinafter appear. I j

The condenser is provided at the top with an inlet 15 for the steam to he condensed and an outlet 16 at its bottom for the discharge of the water of condensation. The inlet to the cooling tubes for the cooling fluid employed is indicated by the reference numeral 17 and the outlet for the cooling fluid from is inclined to the vertical.

said tubes by the reference numeral 18. The outlet for the air and non-condensible gases accumulated in the condenser is indicated by the reference numeral 19. The top and bottom of the intermediate supporting plate 13 are indicated in Fig. 2 by the characters 13 and 13 respectively.

The condenser is provided with a plurality of symmetrical groups 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25 of condenslng tubes similarly inclined to the vertical. Each group of tubes is so arranged as to present two oblique series of rows, one series of rows ab inclined preferably at an angle of approximately 11 to the horizontal and another series cd inclined at an angle to the vertical to enable the oblique progression of the condensed water from the top to the bottom of the said rows 0(Z. That is to say the rows 0d of the cooling tubes of each group are so placed from the vertical in relation one to the other that the Water dropping from the bottom of an, upper tube of a row c0l will fall on the side of a tub-e placed just below it in the same row in accordance with the principles of the invention forming the subject matter of the Ginabat patent above referred to. Furthermore, the tubes are so placed that a line ef which joins the centers of the extreme tubes on the right face of each group of tubes, that is to say the lower tubes in the rows 0-01 of each group as illustrated in Fig. 2, These groups of tubes, 2025, are separated respectively by parallel spaces or lclearances free from tubes, and located in these clearances between the respective groups of tubes are baflle plates.26, 27, 28, 29 and 30 which divide these clearances into spaces 31, 32, 33, 34 and 35 for primarily enabling the free distribution and circulation among the cooling tubes of each group of the steam to be condensed and into spaces 36, 37, 38, 39 and 40 through which'the air and noncondensible gases to be extracted are conducted in large part to the lower part of the condenser, whence they are withdrawn through the exhaust port 19. y

The water of condensation is directed downwardly in each row a-d from left to right, as viewed from Fig. 1 finally arriving on the tubes located on the line ef. The position of the tubes on the line, ef enables the water that they receive as fall into .the spaces 31, 32, 33, 34 and 35. The sheet metal plates 2630 conduct the water of condensation falling from the tubes located on the line e-f to the lower portion of the condenser, thus preventing the lower tubes of the particular group or the adjacent group of tubes of the condenser from being flooded by the Water of condensation accu mllated upon and falling from the upper tu es.

The plates 27, 28 and 29 are preferably provided with angular portions 41, 42 and 43 at their lower ends which serve as screens in order to obstruct the passage of steam toward the extractor of air. vThe inclination and the outline of each group of tubes are chosen in such a way, exception being made for the upper and lower ends of the group of tubes, that each line of tubes 0cZ of the group which conducts the condensed water obliquely toward the outlet of the group shall have substantially the same number of tubes.

Between the group 20 of the cooling tubes and the casing 10 of the condenser is a free space or passageway 44 for the escape of residual air, and between the group 25 and the casing 10 on the opposite side is a clearance or space 45 to enable the circulation of steam among the cooling tubes of said group 25. The water of condensation falling from the tubes on the line e-f of this group will. ultimately find its way to i the lower part of the condenser and thence to the discharge port 16. So far as that portion of this group of tubes located between the end plate 11 and the intermediate plate 13 is concerned the water of condensation, on its way to the discharge port 16 passes over the plate 46, whereas the water of condensation falling from group 25 be tween the end plate 12 and intermediate plate 13 will find its way to the discharge port 16 over the interior wall of the casing 10. I

Located in the lower part of the condenser is a compact zone of cooling tubes 47 over the surfaces of one end of which the air and non-condensible gases from the condenser pass on their way to the exhaust port 19; This zone of tubes at its forward end, that is between the end plate 11 and intermediate plate 13, are confined within a chamber 48 formed by the sheet plate 46 and the interior wall 10 of the casing. The plate 46 may be secured to the casing 10 in any suitable manner. As herein illustrated it is provided with flanges 49 and 50 riveted to the'casing 10. The forward end of the chamber 48 is closed by the end plate 11 and the rear end thereof by means of the intermediate plate 13. However, the intermediate plate provides a passage-way 51 at the bottom thereof to enable the air and non cated at. that end of the condenser where the cooling water is admitted to the tubes, that is at the coolest end of the cooling tubes.

In Figs. 4 and 5 the arrangement of the baflles with respect to the tubes is diagrammatically illustrated. For convenience the baflles are designated by the reference characters 26 27 and 28 and the groups of tubes by the reference characters 21, 22 23 and 24 The spaces for the entrance of steam are indicated by the reference characters 31, 32 and 33 and the spaces for the air and non-condensible gases by the characters 36, 37 and 38*. It will. be observed that the arrangement is 'such that the steam arriving-at the inlet can only enter the spaces provided for the air and non-condensible gases by the narrow passages situated between the upper edges of said baflies and said group of tubes. This same relationship is clearly shown on Fig. 2, as, for example, between groups 21 and 22 and baffle 27. It will therefore be seen that the greater portion of the steam enters the spaces free of tubes on the left of the baflles and scatters into the groups of tubes according 'to-the arrows av. After the same has traversed the groups of tubes there remains only the air and non-condensible gases which readily enters the spaces between the left of the group and the baflies. The steam after entering the condenser has only very narrow passages to the spaces provided for the air and noncondensible gases but the small quantity of steam which does enter the spaces has a very beneficial effect and isexcellent for theoperation of the condenser in that it pushes or forces the air and non-condensible gases towards the lower portion of the condenser where they are easily and readily extracted.-

Furthermore, the comparatively small portion of steam which enters the spaces 36. 37, etc., or spaces 36 37, etc. will be immediately condensed. The steam in its travel, as indicated by the arrows a: on Figs. 4 and 5, is condensed on the tubes thus liberating its non-condensible gases which, together with the air commingled with thesteam due'to the difference indensity, flow towardsthe spaces 86, 37 and 38 and from thence to the lower portion of the condenser from which they are extracted.

Mention has already been made of the stay rods 14. These rods pass through the intermediate plate 13 and are anchored in the end plates 11 and 12. Aside from effecting a more rigid relation between these respec' tive plates they also serve to support the baffles 2630 in'proper relation to the respec tive group of tubes. Any means may be employed for connecting said rods 14 and baffles 2630 but Lprefer the connecting means illustrated in Fig shouldered bolts 53 projecting through props. 2 and 3 which comprise erly located perforations in the baflies and nuts 54 for securing said bafiies to the bolts. The bolts are provided with ring heads 55 to enable a longitudinal movement of the same with respect to the rods 14. It will of course be understood that a set of battles26 to 30 is located on both sides of the intermediate plate 13; that is, there is one set between the end plate 11 and intermediate plate 13 and another set between the end plate 12 and said intermediate plate 13.

I have described herein the preferred form of my invention but it is to be expressly understood that I do not limit myself to the same or to the detailed features described as many changes may be made in regard to the details and other embodiments of the invention resorted to without deviating from the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. A surface condenser of the tubular type comprising a plurality of groups of cooling tubes inclined to the vertical and provided with clearances free of tubes between said groups to enable afree circulation of steam among said tubes, each of said groups comprising a series of rows of tubes inclined towards said clearances and so arranged .that the condensed water falling from the bottom of an upper tube of the row will fall on one side of the tube just below it to enable the water condensedby the rows of tubes to be discharged into said clearances, and bafiles located in said clearances to prevent the water falling into said clearances from one group from falling on the cooling tubes of the succeeding group.

2. A surface condenser of the tubular type comprising a plurality of groups of cooling tubes inclined to the vertical, and bafiles located between said groups to prevent the condensed water of one group from falling on the cooling tube ofthe succeeding group, each of said groups. provided on one side thereof with clearances for primarily enabling a free circulation of steam among the cooling tubes and on the opposite side with a clearance to enable a flow of the air and non-condensible gases to the lower part of the condenser.

3. A surface condenser of the tubular type comprising a plurality of groups of cooling tubes inclined to the vertical and provided with clearances between adjacent groups, and means in said clearances for preventing the water of condensation of one group from falling on the cooling tubes of the adjacent group.

4. A surface condenser of the tubular type comprising a plurality of substantially parallel groups of cooling tubes inclined to the vertical and provided with clearances between said groups and paralleling the same, and means located in said clearances for preventing the water of condensation of one group from falling upon the cooling tubes of the succeeding group. 5. A surface condenser of the tubular type comprising a plurality of substantially parcomprising a plurality of cooling tub-es arranged in parallel groups each of which is inclined to the vertical and provided with similarly inclined clearances between successive groups and paralleling the latter, and

means located in each of said clearances for preventing the condensed water of one group from falling upon the cooling tubes of the succeeding groups, said means also serving to divide said clearances into two spaces one of which primarily enables the free circulation of the steam among the cooling tubes ofthe onev group and the other of wh ch primarily enables the air and non-condensible gases'in the succeeding group to be conducted to the lower side of the condenser.

7. A surface condenser of the. tubular type comprising a plurality of pooling tubes separated by cleara'nces inclined to the vertical into a plurality of similarly inclined groups, in combination with means located in each of said clearances for conducting the condensed water of each group to the lower side of the condenser.

8. A condenser comprisinga plurality of cooling tubes separated by a clearance into a plurality of groups of tubes similarly in clined to the vertical, each of said groups being composed of a plurality of oblique rows inclined to the vertical with the successive tubes of each row from the top to the bottom thereof located above but slightly olfset from the tube just beneath it whereby the condensed water from the bottom of one tube of therow will fall on one side of the tube just beneath it and thereby cause an oblique progression into said clearance of the water condensed by each ofsaid'rows of tubes, in combination with means in said clearance for dividing the latter into two spaces one on each side thereof paralleling the groups of tubes, one of said spaces serving primarily to enable a free circulation of the steam among the cooling tube'sof the group of tubes adjacent thereto and the other serving primarily to enable a flow of air and non-condensible gases to the lower part'of' the condenser, said means also serving to prevent the water of condensationfrom one groups of tu group of tubes from falling upon the cooling tubes of the succeeding group.

9. A condenser comprising 'a plurality of cooling tubes separated by clearances for the flow of steam and residual air into a plurality of groups of tubes similarly inclined to the vertical, each of said roups being composed of a plurality of ob ique rows of tubes inclined downwardly toward said clearances for steam and downwardly away from said clearances for the flow of ail-and non-condensible gases, the successive tubes of each row from the top to the bottom thereof being located above but slightly offset from the tube just beneath it whereby the condensed water from the bottom of one tube will fall on one side of the tube just beneath it and'thereby cause an oblique progression into said steam clearances and away from said air clearances of the water cogdensed by each of said oblique rows of tu es.

10. A. condenser comprising a plurality of cooling tubes separated by clearances for the circulation of steam into a plurality of groups of tubes similarly inclined to the vertical, each of said groups being composed of aplurality of oblique rows of tubes inclined downwardly. toward said clearances, the successive tubesof each row from the top to the bottom beaing located above but slightly offset from the tube just beneath it whereby the condensed water from the bottom of one tube will fall on one sideof the tube just beneath it and thereby effect an oblique progression into said clearances of the water condensed by each of said oblique rows of tubes, and means for preventin the water from one group of tubes 1 from Falling upon the next group of tubes.

11. A condenser comprising a plurality of cooling tubes separated by clearances for the circulation of steaminto a plurality of groups of tubes similarly inclined to the vertical, each of said groups being composed of a plurality of oblique rows of tubes inclined downwardly toward said clearances, the successive tubes of each row from the top to the bottom being located above but slightly ofiset from the tube just beneath it -whereby the condensed water from the bottom of one tube will fall on one side of the tube just beneath it and thereb efi'ect an oblique progression into said 0 earances of the water condensed by each of said oblique rows of tubes, in combination with means located in said clearances for conducting to the lower side of said condenser the condensed water falling from said groups into said clearances.

12. A surface condenser 1 of the tubular type comprising a plurality of cooling tubes separated by clearances inclined to the vertical into a plurality of similarly inclined es in combination with means located in each of said clearances for condueing the condensed water of each group to the lower side of the condenser, said means so dividin said clearances that each group of tubes will be provided on one side thereof with a space primarily for the free circulation of steam among said tubes and on the other side thereof with a space primarily for the downward flow of air and non-condensiblegases.

13. A surface condenser comprisin cooling tubes subdivided into substantial y parallel groups having steam paths between them and in which the water of condensaing the water frolfr one group of tubes from 1 falling upon the next group, said bafiles and said groups of tubes being inclined to the vertical contrary to the direction of the transverse paths of the water of condensa- In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 23d day of February, 1924:.

ALBERT DELAS. 

